Perhaps you’ve heard of me. I’m called Rogue!

At long last, I have finally finished Rogue. More photos here. All photos of the finished object taken by photographer Sherry Heck. I think I started it sometime during 2004. I wanted to finish it in my twenties. At least I’m not too far into my thirties. Where to start with this one…

Everyone comments on how well-written the pattern is. That is quite true – this was my first cabled item, first attached i-cord, first hoodie, first zipper, first cardigan – many learning experiences, for sure. I did the 39″ size in a Valley yarn 100% merino wool with the cardigan modifications. It fits well, with some stretching to the sleeves to make them long enough. In retrospect, I wish I had just knit them an inch longer. It is definitely a layering piece – enough ease to be worn over a long sleeved shirt. The back came out oddly baggy. I’m still thinking about how to work on that. Maybe some elastic in the hem to gently coax it more inward. The finishing/seaming of Rogue isn’t perfect, but I worked really hard on it and did complete it to the best of my abilities. The best instructions I found for the applied/attached i-cord were here. For installing the zipper, I found these instructions by Bonnie Marie Burns very helpful. In terms of blocking, I washed the sweater carefully in Eucalan, horrified at the amount of dust and dirt that came out. That’s what I get for dragging this WIP around with me all over the earth for the past several years. Um, it must be the dye. Sure. That’s what turned the water muddy.

I don’t know why this sweater took so long to complete. Grad school has made it difficult to sit down for any extended period of time and knit or sew, so complicated projects have just been shelved for ages. My yarn broke when I was grafting the hood together, and the sweater sat for about a year after that before I could bring myself to unpick and figure it all out. I think part of the problem was that I wanted so much for this sweater to be perfect, and it just wasn’t. The knitting is perfect – not a single missed stitch or mis-crossed cable. But the finishing and sewing isn’t. My three previous sweaters were all consigned to the Goodwill bin ages ago due to woeful yarn choices, so I’m thrilled to finally have finished Rogue, the first sweater I can actually wear.

And wear it I shall! Tomorrow and Friday are the first days of my comprehensive exams for my master’s degree program. Perfect time to bust out a lucky sweater, for that is what Rogue is.